Differences in Joint Attention Skills of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder According to Functional Performance Level and Age

Student Name:Alhanouf Saleh R Alshammari

Abstract:The study aimed at identifying differences in joint attention skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to functional performance level and age. The sample consisted of 70 children with autism spectrum disorder (36 children with high functional performance, 34 children with low functional performance), selected from autism centers in the State of Kuwait. The age ranged between 4-12 years. The sample was divided into three age groups, 4 less than 7, 7 less than 10, and 10 less than 12 years. Research instruments consisted of Joint Attention Scales for children with autism spectrum disorder, and Functional Performance Level Scales for children with autism spectrum disorder. The results indicated that the level in joint attention skills was higher for children with high functional performance than children with low functional performance. The results also showed that the joint attention skills did not developed with age. Also there was no interaction effect between age and functional performance level. The results also showed that there were no statistically significant differences in joint attention skills by different age levels, while there were statistically significant differences in the dimensions of joint attention skills according to functional performance level. The results revealed that there was a significant negative correlation among the dimensions of joint attention skills and dimensions of functional performance level in children with autism spectrum disorder, and that the functional performance could be predicted by the level of joint attention skills of children with autism.